Gritless Glovers Snatch a Point

Ten man Yeovil Town rescued a point against Oldham Athletic this afternoon in a performance largely missing quality and desire, although the point should seal their league one status.

Manager Terry Skiverton stuck with the same side which over came
Notts County in mid week, sticking with Oli Johnson in what was his last game
in a green and white shirt before he returns to his parent club Norwich City
after completing his loan stint at Huish Park.

The match was being officiated by the infamous Trevor kettle, and
his early decision making was good denying Oldham two dubious penalty shouts
after first Cedric Evina and then Oumare Tounkara went down under little
contact in the box.

But the first twenty minutes of the match were dominated by the
Latics, who deservedly took the lead on the seventeen minute mark thanks to a
swift counter attacking move.

Jason Lowe picked out Reuben Reid down the right hand side who
made the most of some static Yeovil defending to then slide the ball across to
an on runningChris Taylorwho finished well from the edge of the
box to give them a thoroughly deserved lead.0-1.

Just as it looked asif Trevor Kettle may have turned a refereeing
corner he produced a yellow card to Luke Ayling when there wasn't even a foul
to award, after the full-back had forcibly (but fairly) dispossessed Dean
Furman.

That decision enraged the Yeovil fans who began to barrage the
referee with a number of far from friendly chants.

Yeovil were playing as if their League One future's were
definitely secure, and given the case was not that you cannot excuse their
first half lack of commitment and unwillingness to battle.

In fact, it took the Glovers until the 45th minute to earn their
first corner, which was the closest Oldham 'keeper Dean Brill got to the ball
in the opening half of football.

Half Time: Yeovil Town 0-1 Oldham
Athletic

After leaving the field at half time to a chorus of boos it was
clear they had been given the clichéd hairdryer at half time, as they changed
to a 4-4-2 formation with Nathan Smith taking to the pitch instead of captain
Paul Huntington, who had had a first half to forget.

Things began brightly in the second period for Yeovil as they
earned a number of corners in quick succession, all triggered from Jon Obika's
chance when he drew a smart save from Brill after finding space in the box to
shoot goal wards.

From one of the resultant corners Max Ehmer almost found his first
professional goal, only to see his header cannon off of the post and avoid the
following Andy Welsh eventually being cleared to safety.

Just as it looked as if the Green and Whites were beginning to
take charge of the game they were dealt a blow when Luke Ayling received a
second yellow card, after the right-back foolishly lunged in on Cedric Evina to
earn his second yellow card, although the handing out of his first can be
disputed.

Ironically that was the second time this season Ayling has been
sent off by Kettle, who also sent off the youngster at Sheffield Wednesday
earlier in the season. Kettle's already tarnished reputation at Huish Park
had now delved even lower.

You could have forgiven the referee for shying away from some
decisions after irritating the home crowd, but he continued to do so as he
flagged hand ball against Oli Johnson as he ran through on goal despite
seemingly having his vision impaired by a number of players.

As time ticked by it looked like the game was gone for the
Glovers, but then popped up new dadAndy Welsh, who cut
in from the right wing, jinking inside one Oldham defender before scrambling
the ball past Dean Brill and into the net, rescuing a point for the dismal
Glovers.1-1.

Yeovil saw out the remaining time with relative ease and earned a
point which should guarantee them safety from the drop, but their attitude and
desire must improve if they are to push for the top half finish they claim to
be chasing.

pqs:
qs:

Gritless Glovers Snatch a Point

Posted by: Glover Lover (IP Logged)

Date: 16/04/2011 19:28

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